The Paper Detective. E. Joan Sims

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СКАЧАТЬ I might have left you to cool off in the snow some more.”

      “You wouldn’t!” I protested. “I could have frozen to death.”

      “Maybe just a little frostbite,” he grinned.

      “But why?”

      He gazed into the crackling fire for a long time before he answered me.

      “Not everyone is a friend.”

      “Look, I said I was sorry…”

      He cut me off with a slash of his hand.

      “I have quite a few enemies, real enemies—the kind who would like to see me dead. You asked me why I left Danny and came out here by myself. Well, that’s the reason. I don’t want any innocent bystanders getting in the way if somebody with an old grudge comes looking for me.”

      I tried to see his face, but like a good cop he had arranged it so he was in the shadows and I was in the light of the fire.

      “Does Danny know?”

      “Of course not. And I don’t want him to. Understand?” he demanded gruffly.

      I nodded in agreement as I pondered the vast range of human emotions. I had gone from giddy happiness, to bleak misery, and now cold fear in the space of less than two hours. It was exhausting.

      “What’s in it for me?” he asked after a long moment.

      “Being Leonard? Well, the magazine is offering ten thousand. Pam gets fifteen percent. You can have the rest,” I offered meekly.

      He turned angry blazing eyes on me.

      “I don’t need the whole damned thing. You didn’t come out here with that offer in mind, did you?”

      “No,” I admitted humbly. “I was going to split it with you.”

      “That’s more like it!”

      In spite of the fire, I was cold. I shivered and pulled one of the quilts up around my shoulders. Bert noticed and put another log on the fire. I was grateful for his kindness and told him so. He acknowledged my thanks with a curt nod. I knew we would never be able to talk as easily as we had before, but I was still curious.

      “Have you taken any precautions to protect yourself? I mean, do you have any surveillance cameras, or…”

      Bert dropped his head back and laughed. This time it was the same deep, truly genuine laugh he’d had before. I smiled tentatively in return. When he finished, he wiped his eyes and answered me.

      “My God, woman,” he said still chuckling, “haven’t you noticed my rather primitive lifestyle? Where do you think I would get the power to juice up those cameras? Train the raccoons to run a generator?”

      He walked back to the kitchen still chuckling to himself.

      “Want some fresh coffee?” he asked, turning to watch for my answer.

      “Sure. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sleep again, anyway.”

      When his eyes sharpened, I hastened to add, “I’ve slept so much, I mean. I guess the blow on my head,” I finished lamely.

      He came back with two mugs of hot coffee laced with cream and sugar.

      “I would have added a little Jack Daniels, but I don’t think a doctor would approve so soon after a head injury.”

      We sipped our coffee in silence. He was much better than I at adjusting to the new distance between us. I think he was more at ease with himself, and maybe more honest.

      “You’ve changed a lot out here in the woods,” I ventured.

      He was back in the shadows again, and I couldn’t tell much from the tone of his voice.

      “Maybe.”

      “Don’t you get lonesome?”

      “I have Murphy. He’s all the company I need. My cigars and my books are a dividend.”

      The dog heard his name and thumped his tail on the floor in sleepy acknowledgment.

      “I’ve read all your mysteries,” he continued. “You made a few mistakes, but they’re amusing. By the way, Leonard’s an asshole.”

      “Then you are more like him than I thought,” I retorted angrily.

      Again his laughter was genuine and wholehearted. I felt like a naughty schoolgirl. I turned over on my side and pulled the covers up.

      “I am sleepy, after all,” I muttered. “Good night.”

      He sat there in silence until I almost screamed. At long last, he got up and put another log on the fire.

      I lay awake long after I heard the steady breathing coming from his bed in the far corner of the cabin.

      Chapter Six

      The next morning I was awakened by the sound of the county tow truck pulling Watson into the drive in front of Bert’s cabin. I grabbed my clothes and ran barefoot to the outhouse where, thanks to my host, my warm bird bath was waiting. I washed and dressed quickly. I couldn’t wait to get home.

      Danny and Bert were on the front porch drinking steaming mugs of coffee and sharing a joke when I walked out. They cut their laughter short when they saw me. My cheeks burned when they avoided looking my way, leaving me little doubt as to the target of their humor.

      “Good morning, Danny,” I said a little too brightly. “Thanks for rescuing Watson. How is he?”

      Danny cleared his throat, “Seems fine, Mrs. DeLeon. You may want to check the alignment some time soon, but nothing’s bent underneath. Good thing you got out when you did. That exhaust was clogged up tight.”

      “Yeah, so I’ve been told.”

      I turned and looked directly at Bert for the first time. Despite his joking around, he looked tired and drawn. It was obvious that he hadn’t slept well.

      “Thanks again for your hospitality, Bert. I’ll be in touch about our arrangements as soon as I call my agent.”

      I turned to go down the steps and heard the dog whine.

      “Bye, Murphy.” I said as I ruffled his furry ears. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

      I slid twice on the icy path as I hurried to the car, but the tears didn’t start until I banged my knee against the door trying to get in. I averted my face as I backed out of the drive so Bert wouldn’t see me crying yet again. When I stopped to make the turn, I thought for a moment I heard my name in the cold crisp air. I looked back at the cabin, but the two men had gone inside. I spun the tires in the snow as I made my getaway.

      “Damn!” I shouted as I banged on the steering wheel. “Damn, damn, damn!”

      It was almost noon when I got home. СКАЧАТЬ